How far can Mo go?

Mo is really shaking the entertainment media industry, or at least trying to. The last time I heard him over at 89.9FM, he blasted at DZMM and similar media entities as crap-producing hypocrites. This is really one of the few times you can hear such disdain of a radio station by someone from another one. And he is not totally out of tune here. He is simply telling the truth!

But how far can he go? So brave to take on media giants, can he really last that long? Can 89.9FM go on giving him that liberty to say things unheard of on radio before? Expect that big business politics would soon be ganging up on Mo and 89.9FM. Really, although I want to, I do not expect him or his radio show last a little bit more. I hope I am wrong.

And if I am wrong, I would have been happy. Well, I would have been happier if Mo turn on more serious matters. Rather than talk about who are the hypocrites in show business, I would have been happier if he pointed out the hypocrites in news media and politics. I think his bravery is misplaced on the trivial. It would have been of better use for things that would have helped the country.

But Mo is a start. Perhaps, as of today, some well-meaning intelligent people are emboldened to start to do what I am trying to do here – shake all of Philippine media. I am not even a hiccup… but if I am, Mo could be a tidal wave.

Perhaps Mo should start a blog, if he hasn’t yet. I bet it would be fun!

No Electoral Reforms

After so much political restlessness, originating mainly from the opposition alleging that the PGMA administration cheated in the past election, there were still no election reforms instituted in the country. This simply means that there will still be more cheating in the coming elections. This also means that we cannot depend on our politicians to do anything right.

They were given two whole years to institute reforms. But no… all the opposition did was throw political noise around wildly and without direction in hope of a miraculous presidential impeachment or resignation, while the PGMA administration talked senselessly about charter change. Meanwhile, nobody cared about the simpler task of reforming our electoral system. I now think that everything is just for show. Not any of our leaders want reform in this country. As usual, the Philippines media who is absent or is sleeping, did not notice. Yes, they are all in it together.

The opposition does not want election reforms. They still want to win doing their old ways. They still want the popular and the corrupt to win. If there will be reforms, they want to reform only the administration advantage. They wouldn’t want to touch anything that affects them too. Meanwhile, the administration wanted charter change – simply because they want to control the elections. They have the majority and they know they would have free rein if the constitution is replaced! Nobody wanted improved election rules!

Soon, we will see all their smiling faces again, on posters strewn all around the country. Meanwhile, the majority are still poor, the country wretched, the people hopeless.

Mo(re) on Mo

It is really refreshing to listen to Mr. Mo Twister (Mohan Gumatay in real life, per IMDB site) on 89.9FM (7-9am, I think). I heard him say that his show is as free as can be (though not word for word, it is basically what he said). He won't mind (or does not care) saying on air even competing radio stations' name and frequency as long as there is a reason (or perhaps even without a reason). He does not care if a brand is given free advertisement as long as its mention is pertinent to the topic (or perhaps even out of topic). No, he won't censor himself for business or whatever reasons.

And he is winning quite a following. In so short a time, Mo became the most honest and controversial personality on FM radio. Lots of people call his show, ...people he doesn't know or even care about. Mo is just doing what he does best, mumble a lot of words, unmindful of what others would say. He does not even play a lot of music. He admitted once that he liked the sound of his own voice (more than music). He plays only a few selection, over and over again. He is frank, opinionated, brutal, insigthful, often rude, overconfident and boastful. I like him!

I think the Philippines, especially media, need people like him. Their kind is few and far in between. There is Mirriam Defensor Santiago. There is Jessica Zafra. There is Mareng Winnie (Monsod). There is Margie Holmes. There was Ninoy.

They may sometimes be wordy yet they do not say what we want to hear. They do not want us to agree with them. They just say what they think is right. They are honest. They do not cower from questions thrown at them. They speak their mind without care if they are wrong. They speak as simply and to-the-point as can be.

No... they are not like the likes of Sen. Gordon, verbose and calculating. They are unlike Roco who is diplomatic and timid on some. They are unlike Erap or FPJ, playing simplicity for lack of depth. They are unlike the scripted lot as Chiz and Atty. Fortun (brothers). They are not trying to be like Flavier, they are not trying to be funny nor likeable. They are just themselves, whether we like them or not.

Often, I do not agree with Mo. I hate it when he says R-rated words (which I think is not fit for free radio where kids can hear, even for the sake of free speech). But I like his style. He is as free as a bird. He can be like a butterfly that floats when he does what he do. Often, he also is a bee that stings.

"(I) float like a butterfly, sting like a bee" - Muhammed Ali

Happy New Year to all?

How can the New Year be happy when almost 1,000 Filipinos have been injured by firecrackers? How can it be when as of the last counting, 37 of these Filipinos are injured by stray bullets? There are deaths, even, but it seemed no one cared to count.

In Bangkok, Thailand, there were 3 people who died and about 40 injured in a bomb blast by still unknown perpetrators. They have far fewer casualties than we have yet we learn that their government stopped all celebrations in Bangkok associated with the New Year. In the Philippines more people died (presumably) and are injured yet it is celebrations as usual. The life of a Thai is far more important than that of a Filipino!

I just cannot imagine how 37 people can be injured by stray bullets! What are the chances a bullet will hit you rather than the large space surrounding you? Say that Metro Manilas population density is 20,000 per square kilometer, the chances of getting hit by a stray bullet coming from the sky is 1:200 at most (It could even be 1 in 1,000.)! If there are 37 people who got hit (and if it is in Metro Manila only, it means there are statistically more than 7,000 bullets fired! I am quite poor in statistics and I am sure that others will have a better figure but the number would indeed still be appalling!

7,000 flying bullets finding their marks back to earth at a velocity as if close range is no joke, yet nobody seems to care. The media as usual do not ask the right questions. Which area did the bullets came from? Who (which government agency) is investigating the firings? Are the bullets of the home-made type from “paltik” guns or are they real bullets from real guns? Is there anyway to know if the bullets are from police or military personnel? Why is everyone treating this event as if nothing happened? Hello Philippines, anybody home?

No wonder that while Bangkok’s New Year Bombings got ample coverage even by international news organizations such as CNN, the Philippines deaths due to stupid yet shameless celebrations are not even mentioned. Filipinos became so insignificant through the world’s eyes. If Pinoys won’t care, no one would.

In Davao City, there were no injuries. I do not believe so much of our local news but can we at least look at how Davao City would have done it? Can we at least herald the idea that avoiding New Year deaths and injuries can be done?

If there was a natural calamity and a thousand people are injured, it would have been treated like a major disaster. The area where the calamity occurred would have been billed a disaster area. But our government and media forget or do not care

Happy New Year to all.